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“Good thing I don’t want another girl.” She’s silent but I can tell she’s smiling. “I’ll swing by there around twelve. Is that good for you?”
“Yeah, we’ll be here sweating our asses off as the sun gets hotter and it bakes us in here.”
An hour later after thinking about how frazzled she sounded cooped up in a house with three kids, I had a great idea. One that would allow me to spend more time with her and give the kids and us something fun to do. A quick search on the computer and I have a plan for the day. Hopefully, she’ll like it. I’m sure the boys will. Who doesn’t like amusement parks?
As I’m getting the tickets printed out from the printer my phone rings with a call from Holden. “Hey,” I answer.
“Hey, I got your money for you.”
“What money?”
“The money I borrowed.”
“I told you you didn’t have to pay it back. You really did earn it for helping out.”
“All right. You don’t need to tell me twice to keep money in my pockets. Thanks.”
“No prob. So what are you up to today, work?”
“Not much. It’s my day off. I was going to practice on the guitar then maybe go hang with a couple of the guys tonight, play a song or two.”
“So your day is wide open if you want it to be.”
“Mm…sure.”
“How about you come to hang with me, Lexi, and her brothers? It’ll be fun.”
“More painting?” He sort of chuckles. “You know you’re in already with her. You don’t need me to help seal the deal. Although, anything with me in it is better.”
“Whatever, knucklehead. I’m supposed to finish her porch today but I thought I would surprise her and her brothers with tickets and a day at Great Adventures. It’ll be fun, come with us. This way there’ll be two cars and we won’t be smashed together.”
“So you’re only inviting me for a free ride? How impolite and opportunistic of you. But I get it, you’re digging her hard. More and more like me every day, bro,” he says in that sarcastic joking way of his.
“It’s not even like that and you know it. Seriously, though, you had fun last time and you did say you wouldn’t mind going back to help. Well, you’ll be helping, and it’ll be fun. Come on, say yes. Come on, come on…it’s the brotherly thing to do.”
“Fine.” He sighs dramatically. “You twisted my arm. I’ll go help you out once again.”
Yes! “All right, cool,” I say smoothly like I’m not really happy he’s coming. When you go to places like these, the more the better. “I’ll meet you at Lexi’s in twenty minutes.”
* * *
“Hey, guys. What’s going on?”I walk into the house after Ryan opens the door and immediately slumps back down on the couch next to his brother, watching whatever is on.
“Can’t you see, not a damn thing but sweating our balls off,” Drew mumbles with his usual charm.
Okay. “As always, it’s nice to see you too, Drew.”
“Whatever. If you’re looking for Lexi, she went on a date. She decided to trade up. I think a firefighter. So you can leave and stop adding to the oppressive heat in here.”
“Funny. I just spoke to her.”
“Good for you.”
“On a hot as balls day like today, I think you should be nicer to me, Drew. I got something I think you’ll be interested in.” Just then Axel comes down the steps with Lexi right behind him.
Seeing me she smiles. “Hey, you.” And comes to stand next to me.
“Hi.” I smile and kiss her on the cheek. “Hey, Axel.”
